New York, US (PANA) - US Assistant Secretary of State for Population, Refugees, and Migration, Ms. Anne Richard, will travel to Cameroon on 11-14 July and Chad 14-17 July, to strengthen international cooperation between US and the two African nations.

A US State Department statement obtained by PANA in New York on Saturday said the visit would enable the American diplomat to discuss ways to ease the desperate plight of refugees and internally displaced persons in Cameroon and Chad.

She would also discuss issues affecting the broader Lake Chad Basin region following attacks by Nigerian-based terror group, Boko Haram.

The statement said that the itinerary would also focus on furthering US cooperation with both countries, as well as the UN and the European Union on refugee and migration issues.

In Cameroon, Assistant Secretary Richard will meet with various officials, together with Mr. Toby Lanzer, UN Assistant Secretary-General and Regional Humanitarian Coordinator for the Sahel.